Bathurst Observatory Research Facility
Bathurst NSW Australia
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https://www.facebook.com/BathurstObservatory/
Bathurst Observatory Research Facility is an observatory site primarily for education, research and study, though we do offer general public viewing nights.
Open Nights Star Tours Available Now (conditions and limits apply)
Bookings will be essential for all tours.
(All tours subject to weather)
NEWS: Tours begin at the new site
Tours are underway at the new site. The site is not complete yet, however, are able to offer tours to help complete other facilities.
Tours will be generally be available any clear Friday and Saturday nights, however, we can also offer some tours, mid week for groups of 5 or more. Check to see if I am available.
Any clear Friday and Saturday Nights!!!
Note, Bathurst Observatory has moved and under construction!!!!
The new site, opened during 2020 and offers better sky, better viewing opportunities and a more unique experience.
No tours in the week of Full Moon.
Please note that the main telescope is pretty big and requires use of a small stepladder for viewing. Please advise if you would have difficulties with steps and we can set up a different telescope.
* There may be some mid week research nights where tours are not available.
Reduced Tours Prices for groups
Costs :
As the site is not yet complete with all facilities, we are asking for donation towards completion (an amount you think is fair for the tour and my time).
(Note: we have NO credit card facilities)
Tour bookings and Enquiries, phone (0427292214 Please leave a message as we screen out spam calls), or email us. (Email is by far the best way to get us, if you don’t get a reply it means you have us blocked!!! Please change your settings!).
Why “Open Nights”?
We used to do tours in the observatory dome. However, we found that the dome itself blocked out most of the night sky! Our visitors wanted to view through a telescope but be able to see and hear about the wonders of the night sky at the same time. We particularly had many visitors from urban areas wanting to see a nice dark country sky full of stars. The solution, set up the public telescope as nature wanted us to, on cleared ground next to the observatory, under the wonder of the Southern stars.
Our tours are conducted with the only guide with over fifteen years educational astronomy experience and with Bachelor of Education Honours Degree! Our guide is also an internationally recognised expert in the field of meteorites.
Tours require bookings and are weather dependent. (We can’t see stars through clouds!) Tour duration is about 1 hour, depending on time of year.
We cater for all school astronomy and space excursions, as well as general public telescope tours of the night sky. Primarily we offer our open night tours to inspire everyone to look to the night sky.
The Milky Way stretches overhead in this view taken at the Bathurst Observatory Research Facility.
The Bathurst Observatory Research Facility (Research and Meteorite Related Enquires and Public Viewing Nights)
The Bathurst Observatory Research Facility, located on the current site on Limekilns Road north east of Bathurst. At the research site, we study, comets, asteroids, variable stars, meteors and meteorites. For research related enquires please email us.
We also welcome any enquires or questions you may have on Astronomy, Space or meteorite related matters.
Our FaceBook page https://www.facebook.com/BathurstObservatory/ is regularly updated, so have a look for the latest news and images from the observatory.
Other Tours
Solar Telescope Tours (Viewing the Sun)
On occasions, we are able to offer daytime telescope views of the sun. We have a special telescope that allows you to SAFELY view the sun. At present the availability of these tours will depend on three factors.
- that I’m available on the day.
- it is not cloudy.
- that the sun has some active features.
The third point is important, as sometimes the sun can be quiet and not as interesting to see.
These tours will be about 15 minutes in duration and by gold coin donation. Bookings for a solar tour would be essential.
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With December tours announced in the last post I made, I thought I'd test out the observatory (as I have not been able to use for a while with injury and weather). A bit rusty on imaging Jupiter I admit, but it is my first Jupiter of the year! 4th December. ... See MoreSee Less
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Welcome back 👍, i know the feeling, i just had surgery and can't drive or lift my astro gear 🫤
Tours for December!!! Hopefully I'm ok by now! Tours for December are 9:30pm, bookings essential (message or email).
Tours will be available from Saturday the 9th of December until Wednesday the 20th December (resuming early January).
Don't forget there is a wonderful meteor shower (Geminids) in the early morning of Friday the 15th. Get up just after midnight and face northwards. No need for a telescope. Just be away from urban areas. There are no tours for that, just enjoy from home! ... See MoreSee Less
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Brendan George
Mal Sleet Alec Kitching Emily Kitching
How would you like to send your name to Jupiter's moon Europa? A space probe called the Europa Clipper is scheduled to launch October next year. NASA are offering people around the world to have their name included on a special chip attached to the spacecraft. Why not add your name!! Link here: ... See MoreSee Less
Sign Your Name to Europa Clipper's Message in a Bottle
europa.nasa.gov
You're invited to #SendYourName to Jupiter's moon Europa by signing a poem by U.S. Poet Laureate Ada Limón that will travel aboard NASA's @EuropaClipper spacecraft.Comment on Facebook
The MRI on my neck wasn't overly great, so please note I need a couple of weeks rest before doing tours again. At present, looking up through the telescope isn't wise for me, but I should be ok again soon!!!! I am hoping a few nights testing by imaging will see me back into it!!! In the meantime, I will add a few posts of things at night you can step outside and share with someone. ... See MoreSee Less
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Feel better soon
Do hope you feel better soon. 👍
Get well soon!!!
Rest is more important
Take care!! 🤗
Get well soon. Bathurst is lucky to have you
Rest and get better.
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While I await another MRI (getting old), I have sat down to plan a large research telescope we have all the parts to complete other than the telescope tube to hold them. I have tried contacting local sheet metal fabricators but alas they have never replied or not interested (a bit sad). So while I sit contemplating, if you are a sheet metal worker interested in making a tube about 1900mm long and 470mm diameter with four strengthening bands, let me know via message!!! I can then start saving for it. Ps a larger version of the one pictured. ... See MoreSee Less
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Tim Hathaway
Is that 16 inches in the old money?
Yubute Fabrication might be able to help 👍
Try Wade Carter at Carters General Engineering
Aaron Paterson
Robert Smit
Carters General Engineering
Cutting Edge Engineering Australia ??
John Templeton is this something within your capacity?
My husband Gary is a sheet metal fabricator and fellow astronomer if you are still looking for someone. He has made many telescope tubes . We are located near Crookwell . Please text 0409 125 163 .
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I had an opportunity late last night to set up for an image of galaxy NGC 253. Atmospheric conditions were terrible! It was windy and a lot of churring about in the sky. However, this is the result. Not overly impressed but it is a nice side on and dusty spiral galaxy.
Tours for the rest of October 8:30 pm. Book via message or email.
Tours are available on October : 20th and 21st
(I had hoped to have the 14th, however, that date looks to be in doubt)
I'll post November tours soon. ... See MoreSee Less
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Outstanding! Thank you.
Can I book my son and Myself in for the 21st?
Michael Griffiths
Liz Domingue 🌌
Brilliant!
I think it looks brilliant.
Still nice.
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Sorry to keep boring folks with images of Saturn, but I was pleased with this one taken on the 28th September. I think its my clearest of recent images. ... See MoreSee Less
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Amazing! Love it!
Can't get enough of Saturn! Wonderful clear picture. Thank you.
Never boring! Absolutely beautiful and fascinating! Thank you.
I could never get bored of Saturn 🙂
Beautiful planet
Wow
Beautiful
I agree Kerrie. Love the images. Tempted to buy another telescope ☺️☺️
Fantastic picture
You shut your mouth! We love your Saturnian images <3
The vastness of space blows my mind. That is an amazing image of one of our neighbours, well done.
Wow thats amazing
Nice one! Bravo
Not boring at all. Appreciate your work
Billy
Never get bored of seeing this beautiful lady.
That’s awesome, nothing boring about it
Wow!
Don't be there awesome keep up the with the photos
Peter M Hickey
Bree Harrison
Never boring !!
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Not too much to image when the Moon is bright. So why not image the Moon!!!
Tours are booked out for the first week of the holidays, but still a few places left on the 4th and 5th. ... See MoreSee Less
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Lovely clear shots.
Finally! I have worked out some free upcoming tour dates for the school holidays. Unfortunately the full moon is right in the middle!!! The moon is too bright to use the telescope and see other things, so there are no tours a few days either side of full moon. Also note daylight savings kicks in the second week of the holidays. Remember, to book a tour, send an email or a message and I'll send details (I don't always get to read posts, so please send email or message).
Available tour dates are:
25th and 26th of September at 7:30 pm.
4th and 5th of October at 8:30 pm.
Tours are still donation. Sorry I can't offer more places!!! (I have some important things like my daughter's 21st and full moon on other dates!) ... See MoreSee Less
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